Children of the Dust Bowl
The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp
By: Shaina King, Misty Rader, Kayla Mosley, and Cassy Jones
Grade Level: 5th grade
Learning Objectives:
1. Social Studies SS4 1.10 Grade 5
Apply the following economic concepts:
a. scarcity
b. supply and demand
c. trade-offs (opportunity cost)
2. Social Studies SS5 1.10, 1.4, 1.5 A. SS5 1.8
Use geographic research sources to acquire information and
answer questions and construct maps
3. Reading CA 3, 1.5, 1.6, 2.4, 3.5
Apply information in text features, graphics, such as maps,
diagrams, charts and index, to clarify and connect concepts to the
main ideas
4. Reading CA 2, 3, 7, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 3.5
Compare, contrast and analyze connections between
a. text to text (information and relationships in various fiction and
non-fiction works)
*b. text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
*c. text to world (text ideas and the world by responding to
literature that reflects a culture and historic time frame)
Learning Objectives:
5. Writing CA 2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.4
Identify and explain examples of sensory details, figurative
language, and basic literary techniques in text, emphasizing
a. simile
b. metaphor
c. personification
d. analyze literary techniques previously introduced
6. Writing CA 1, CA 4, 1.8, 2.1, 2.2
Follow a writing process to
a. use a prewriting strategy
b. generate a draft
c. reread, revise for audience and purpose, ideas and content,
organization and sentence structure, and word choice (refer to
W2A, W2B, W2C, W2D)
d. edit for conventions (refer to W2E)
*e. share writing
Pre-reading Activities
1. Create A Map- Have the students draw and locate the Oklahoma Panhandle and the states
the Okies’ would have to travel through to reach California. Also have students locate
Oklahoma City, Shamrock TX, Amarillo TX, Tucumcari NM, Albuquerque NM, Holbrook AZ,
Flagstaff AZ, Kingman AZ, Needles, Brastow CA, and Bakersfield CA. Have students shade in
the Dust Bowl area and the Mountain ranges and label.
Objective: Social Studies SS5 1.10, 1.4, 1.5 A. SS5 1.8
Use geographic research sources to acquire information and construct maps
Handouts
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Children of the Dust Bowl Reading Assignment Sheet
Reading Assignment Sheet
Name: _____________________________
Period: ___________________________
Reading Assignment
Date Assigned
Date Due
Date Completed
Introduction
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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Chapter 4
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Chapter 5
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Chapter 6
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Chapter 7
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•Class discussion
over each reading
section to discuss
the students
reactions to the
reading.
Chapter One- Dust Bowl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csnY0Tnvdj8
&feature=player_embedded
After watching the video and reading Chapter 1 have
the students answer a few short answer questions.
1. What is the panhandle?
2. What kind of crops could the Okies grow?
3. What did the Okies do to survive the storms?
Chapter 2- Mother Road
• Have the students draw in the Mother Road on their Maps
and discusses the problems that arose for the Okies along
their journey.
Objective: Social Studies SS5 1.10, 1.4, 1.5 A. SS5 1.8
Use geographic research sources to acquire information and construct maps
Chapter 3-Song or Poem
• Imagine you were an Okie child living at
Weedpatch Camp. Write a song or poem about
your life at Weedpatch Camp.
• Example: “Tow-Sack Tattler” page 32
It takes a little courage;
And a little self-control;
And a grim determination;
If you want to reach a goal;
It takes a deal of striving;
And a firm and stern-set chain;
No matter what the battle;
If you really want to win…….
Objective: Writing CA 2, 1.5, 1.6, 2.4
Chapter 4- “Okie, Go Home”
• Class Discussion
– How the Okies were treated.
– How the Okie children felt.
– How the people in Bakersfield felt.
– Why the Grapes of Wrath made a huge impact in
Bakersfield.
Objective: Reading CA 2, 3, 7, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 3.5
Compare, contrast and analyze connections between
a. text to text (information and relationships in various fiction and nonfiction works)
*b. text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
*c. text to world (text ideas and the world by responding to
literature that reflects a culture and historic time frame)
Chapter 5- Thank You, Mr. Hart
• You are an Okie child, you are to write Mr.
Hart a thank you letter in proper letter format.
Date
Dear Mr. Hart,
Thank You,
Your Name
Objective: Writing CA 1, CA 4, 1.8, 2.1, 2.2
Chapters 6 and 7- Weedpatch School
• Today, we are going to pretend Mrs. Edna Hart is going to
teach us a cooking lesson in the Weedpatch Cafeteria. We are
going to be making a dust bowl classic….Dusty Ice Cream
Homemade Vanilla or Dusty Ice Cream
What you will need
3 eggs
1 (14 ounces) can of condensed milk
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
If you want some toppings put 1 cup of it
2 cups of heavy cream whipped
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl beat the egg yolks and stir in
the condensed milk and vanilla. If you have
toppings crush it and put it in the whipped
cream. Pour mixture into a 9 by 5 in. loaf pan
lined with foil. Cover and freeze for 6 hours or
until firm. Serves 8.
Chapter 8-Our School
• Show your students various examples of the art and literature
from the period and then discuss them as a group. A number
of famous artworks have come out of the Dust Bowl era.
• Have the students create an artwork or a piece of literature to
display in the school.
Image Source Page:
http://www.recordshopx.com/artist/bonamassa_
joe/dust_bowl/
Chapter 9- Compare and Contrast
Weedpatch
School/Sunset School
Our School Today
Compare and Contrast Weedpatch/Sunset School and our School.
Write a paragraph using a graphic organizer about your findings.
Objective: Reading CA 2, 3, 7, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 3.5
Compare, contrast and analyze connections between
a. text to text (information and relationships in various fiction and nonfiction works)
*b. text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
*c. text to world (text ideas and the world by responding to literature that reflects a
culture and historic time frame)
Assessment
Students need to write a 3-5 paragraph paper on one of the
following subjects from an Okie child’s point of view:
-The journey along the Mother Road.
-How Bakersfield community treated them.
-What was it like living during the Dust Bowl storms?
-Why was having a school of their own so important?
Objective: Reading CA 2, 3, 7, 1.5, 1.6, 1.9, 3.5
Compare, contrast and analyze connections between
a. text to text (information and relationships in various fiction and nonfiction works)
*b. text to self (text ideas and own experiences)
*c. text to world (text ideas and the world by responding to literature that reflects a
culture and historic time frame)